Shrine-worthy superchargers | Six of the Best
You can shut the gate on this one, Maxie... it's the duck's guts!
Ford GT, 2006, 18k, £280,000
The junior supercar world changed beyond recognition 20 years ago. Not only did Lamborghini finally introduce its second model line (the 500hp, V10-engined Gallardo), but the 21st-century Ford GT offered up genuine big-league performance for little more than £100,000. The Ferrari 360 Modena was humbled, and even the F430 that followed it could not compete with the GT’s monstrous supercharged V8. It was so much more than mere muscle, too, handling with all the delicacy of the very best mid-engined cars. While looking like this. It was an enviable task to follow up Ford’s most famous race car, and the GT that marked the Blue Oval’s centenary emphatically nailed the brief. No wonder they remain so highly prized, whether original UK market cars or brought in later from their homeland. This one has been enjoyed by just one owner since ‘06, has 600hp, and is £280,000 - perfect.
Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk, 2019, 30k, £99,900
There are all manner of monsters powered by the supercharged Hellcat V8 on PH. From early, alluringly affordable Challengers with just the 707hp up to a Demon 170, those intrigued by the 6.2-litre powerhouse are spoilt for choice. There’s only one, however, that’s right-hand drive and was officially sold in the UK: the Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk, of which just 20 were sold over here back in 2018. It was an absolute lunatic, of course, king of the quarter mile with four-wheel drive traction alongside a Grand Canyon of power, torque and noise. Seldom has a straight line ever been so much fun, even if bumps weren’t exactly its friend. For those who say SUVs lack character, the Trackhawk proves the opposite is true. Launched at £90k, 710hp Jeeps have held strong ever since: this, er, modestly specced one is for sale, with 30,000 miles, for £100k.
Lotus Exige Sport 410, 2021, 2k, £79,995
Now we’re talking. Whether four-cylinder or six, supercharged Toyota engines have powered some Lotus icons for almost 20 years now - the first forced induction 2ZZ Exiges arrived in 2005. Still going strong too, of course, the only Emira currently available to order has the trusty 3.5 in the middle. A fine job it continues to do as well. To be honest, anything from Elise S/C to Emira 3.5 would have ably demonstrated just how great supercharging was for Lotus sports cars - because they’re all great - but this time we’ve decided to plump for the S3 Exige. Not just because they remain one of the great Lotus designs of recent times, but because they offer genuine old-school, mid-engined supercar experience for a fraction of the cost. Especially once that venerable V6 is above 400hp, as it is in this Sport 410. With just 2,000 miles, it’s bang on new Emira money - tough choice.
Mini Cooper S JCW GP, 2006, 38k, £21,920
Don’t worry, we’ll say it before you do: yes, there are more affordable supercharged Minis out there than the JCW GP. If you’re willing to take a chance on a few owners and a fair amount of miles, they’re still around for Shed money. Amazing for a hot hatch once so loved. There are what look like very nice ones for £5k, too. The JCW adds a meaningful dollop of extra performance, then the GP really is something special: a little more power again, just two seats, 50kg less weight, a limited-slip diff and lower ride height. They’re now the raw and raucous old Minis we were told the 21st-century cars could never be, loved like the later turbos aren’t. This is number 646 of the 2000 built, standard, very low mileage and with a full service history. If recent years are anything to go by, a very safe place for the money as well.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8, 2019, 13k, £124,950
The supercharged 5.0-litre V8 has seen service in dozens of Jaguar Land Rovers over the years, and improved them all. Imagine an F-Type, or an XJR, or a Range Rover without the performance and personality of the AJ-V8. It’s going to be very sorely missed, and never has the potency of the supercharged engine been better harnessed than with the Project 8. No mere RWD reprobate, the XE by Special Vehicle Operations brought together the 600hp version of the V8 with a highly evolved chassis and the all-wheel drive smarts to deploy everything - a Nurburgring record was proof of it. The amount of engineering work that went into Project 8 meant that the XE name was almost a misnomer; don’t forget it was left-hand drive only, because the package couldn’t accommodate RHD. This is a two-seat, Track Pack'd car, enjoyed to the tune of 13,000 miles. It’s now available for M3 CS money…
Ariel Nomad supercharged, 2016, 6k, £59,950
The Nomad could be powered by anything and be enormous fun, which bodes very well for the future of Ariel. The 2.4-litre Honda K24 was already an ideal fit for the 2015 original, light and strong and keen to rev. In a Nomad it did everything, realistically, that a buyer could need on- or off-road. But it was only the supercharger option that gave everything an owner could ever want: from a Nomad, from an Ariel, potentially from anything on four wheels. Forced induction meant even more performance, an unforgettable noise, and the torque to keep it sideways everywhere. You don’t often see Nomads for sale at all (because why would you get rid?), and very seldom without a supercharger - it’s honestly the making of one of the best cars still made in Britain. This one benefits from Alcon brakes, a full Ariel service history and just 6,000 miles. It’s your supercharged summer sports car sorted.
I'd have my plain old SL55 over quite a few of the cars in that list too.
The problem now is that you're looking at one it'll be in a feature-laden (Air, SBC, gen 1 Command, sensors galore) 15yo car from MBs darkest era. But that didn't stop PH including a wet-tissue Mini, so there's no real excuse.
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